Robotics

The number of independent parameters that define the configuration or state of a robotic system. Each degree of freedom typically corresponds to a joint or axis along which a robot can move. A standard industrial robot arm has six degrees of freedom, allowing it to position and orient its end-effector arbitrarily in three-dimensional space.

The branch of mechanics concerned with the motion of a robot without considering the forces that cause that motion. Forward kinematics calculates the position of the end-effector given joint angles, while inverse kinematics determines the joint angles needed to achieve a desired end-effector position.

A computational technique that allows a robot to build a map of an unknown environment while simultaneously tracking its own location within that map. SLAM algorithms fuse data from sensors such as LiDAR, cameras, and IMUs to maintain a consistent spatial model in real time.

A widely used control-loop feedback mechanism that continuously calculates an error value as the difference between a desired setpoint and a measured process variable, then applies corrections based on proportional, integral, and derivative terms. PID controllers are fundamental to precise robotic motion.

The device or tool attached to the end of a robotic arm that directly interacts with the environment. End-effectors can be grippers, welding torches, suction cups, spray nozzles, or specialized surgical instruments, depending on the robot's intended task.

The process of combining data from multiple sensors to produce more accurate, reliable, and complete information about a robot's environment or internal state than any single sensor could provide alone. Common fusion approaches include Kalman filters and particle filters.

A component responsible for converting energy into physical motion in a robotic system. Actuators can be electric motors, hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic pistons, or newer technologies like shape-memory alloys and electroactive polymers that enable a robot to move and exert forces.

The computational problem of finding a collision-free route for a robot to travel from a starting position to a goal position within a given environment. Algorithms such as A*, RRT (Rapidly-exploring Random Trees), and Dijkstra's algorithm are commonly used to solve path planning challenges.

The field of artificial intelligence that enables robots to interpret and understand visual information from cameras and image sensors. It encompasses techniques such as object detection, image segmentation, depth estimation, and optical character recognition that allow robots to perceive their surroundings.

The multidisciplinary study of how humans and robots communicate, collaborate, and coexist. HRI spans interface design, safety protocols, social cues, trust calibration, and ergonomic considerations to ensure that robots work effectively and safely alongside people.